PT3 scrapping: Radzi goes AWOL from parliamentary meeting

KUALA LUMPUR – Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin has disregarded an official invitation by Parliament to attend a special select committee (PSSC) meeting yesterday to explain the sudden abolishment of the Form 3 Assessment (PT3) examinations, its chairman Maszlee Malik revealed.

According to Maszlee, the minister was summoned to provide further explanation on the rationale to do away with the examination, as well as the preparations and alternatives in place.

The Simpang Renggam MP, however, said neither Radzi nor any representative from the ministry was present at the meeting yesterday, accusing them of undermining the Parliament.

“Since this issue involves public interest and is closely related to the future of our education, the PSSC on education, through the Dewan Rakyat secretary, has called the minister or his representative to provide an explanation,” he said in a Facebook post today.

“Unfortunately, the ministry and its minister chose not to attend. This is deeply regretted, as it undermines Parliament and the concept of separation of powers.”

Maszlee said the unprofessional behaviour shown by the ministry has only raised questions on whether they were afraid of facing the committee and if they had something to hide.

He said the PSSC will issue an official press statement on the matter soon and will meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun in relation to the issue.

Radzi had on June 2 announced the abolishment of the PT3 exam starting this year, replacing it with school-based assessments that would be bolstered to ensure that parents and teachers are kept updated on students’ achievements. 

The minister noted that the formative and summative assessments throughout the academic term will allow parents and teachers to monitor the development of students and hold intervention sessions if the need arises more closely. 

“Compared to PT3, which was held when students are already set to move on to the next academic stage, our new approach will allow us to immediately identify problems faced by students and how they can be guided,” he said. 

Previously in January, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Azam Baki had similarly disregarded an invitation by Parliament to attend a PSSC meeting to explain his ownership of millions of public shares. 

Under the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, the august house is empowered to call upon any witness to testify on issues it is investigating. – The Vibes, June 14, 2022